Sheepshank

Hi. I hope there are boaters familiar with the Birmingham canals who can give me a bit of help. I'm planning a trip for next month that includes travelling from Fazeley Junction through Birmingham to Wolverhampton. I'm currently thinking of an overnight stop at Curdworth then a long day's travel to Deep Cuttings and a mooring near the NIA where we've stopped previously. If there's a lot of traffic and we don't get that far, can anyone recommend any safe places to overnight between the Aston Locks and the Farmers Bridge locks, or maybe at the bottom of the Aston locks? Also, in the Nicholson Guide, it says the lock keeper at Farmers Bridge is on duty Mon-Thurs 07.30 - 17.00 and Fri 07.00 - 16.30, are the locks open outside these hours or do they get padlocked when the keeper is off duty? Are the Farmer's Bridge and Aston locks in reasonable nick and how busy are the likely to be? So many questions, my head hurts.....

Got myself replacement brushes recently from mixtelematics. Try this email: Chris.Allen@mixtelematics.com Adrian

Where in Yorkshire is the tea grown - by gum they must be hardy plants! Back on topic - I have acquired a quantity of 28 sec heating oil. Is this ok to use in an NB engine? Adrian

Ooops, sorry about the spelling twocvbloke, must get SWMBO to check my posts! Looks like we'll be in Foulridge for this weekend, and fine weather is forecast. If you see a dark blue cruiser named Molly, knock on side and say hello! Adrian

Great help, we're looking forward to continuing down to Leeds then back round via the Huddersfield. Today we left Burnley (left the boat for a few days at Reedly Marina - nice place really helpful staff) and moved to Barrowfield locks. The towpath is well maintained with new sheeting and very little rubbish so a very pleasant surprise! (A part apology to BW there). Will take on board comments about Gargrave and Skipton, we intend to stay in that area for a couple of weeks to do some walking, and definitely will not miss the sights around Saltaire. Thanks all Adrian

Looking forward to the Yorkshire section then, especially around Skipton. What's it like goind down through Bradford & Leeds? Adrian

Having come up from Stourbridge via the Staffs & Worcester, Shropshire Union, Trent & Mersey and Bridgewater canals, I reckon the Leeds and LIverpool canal has the most rubbish in it so far, at least up to Burnley where we are at present. Bikes, plastic bottles, strangely loads of kid's footballs, and of course plastic bags line the banks and clog up the channel. Frequent weed hatch clearances needed. Furthermore there seems to have been little maintenance done recently, many towpath edges are broken, making mooring impossible for long stretches while at the locks there are major leaks in gates and frequently paddles out of action. I hope it gets better as we head up to Foulridge and into Yorkshire. Could be it's got something to do with the lack of traffic. We've only seen a half dozen of moving boats between Wigan and Burnley, maybe BW don't think it worth maintaining. Anyone else having the same experience? Adrian

Thanks guys, I'll have a peek at the alternator tomorrow. Adrian

The faria control unit from Barrus incorporates a rev counter with an hours run meter. My rev counter started showing revs intermittently now has stopped working altogether, although the hours run seems to be working. Is this an electrical connection problem or a mechanical problem? Adrian

I've found 19kg calor bottles at the bonded warehouse in Stourbridge. We're staying there for a couple of days - mind you any longer we might not get out, the ice is quite thick in the basin. It didn't help that the heating packed up and I had to drain and flush the system. Another way to find out about things.... We went through the newly repaired section of the Stourbridge canal to get here, it's good how quickly it's been done, but beware it's very shallow at the repair.

Thanks guys will certainly look into Flogas. Will also look at other boat aerials, but that's not urgent, most of what's on tv is c**p anyway. Have to say it was a pleasure bringing the boat down, only passed a couple of other travelling boats and no waiting at locks. I guess the same trip in the summer would be much different. Adrian

Hi all, and a merry Christmas to boot! What a change - my wife and I have returned from Dubai (30 degrees!) and picked up our boat from Shobnall Basin in Burton last Friday (0 degrees). So far we've taken the boat down to Wolverhampton, moored near the Limekiln, before we move to Ashwood Basin after Xmas for a bit of TLC. Generally no problems, which considering we'd only seen the boat once and all surveys and other stuff done by email is remarkable. It was "interesting" trying to find what switches did what, how to work the stove and generally trying to live in a space a tenth of our previous. First thing we sorted was mobile broadband - I've taken out a contract with 3 (Xmas special) including a separate mobile phone (which I needed) 5Gb per month plut 500 phone minutes for only £22/month, so far no problems connecting. Not had any luck with the TV - it works on shore so must be the aerial - any ideas on what aerial gives the best reception? Another item to be resolved is the gas bottles - the boat is fitted with 2 Calor 19kg bottles, so far all the places I've tried only have up to 13kg, is there any problem getting 19kg refills. No doubt there will be more things to find out when we start refit works! Adrian

Thanks David for the Acefoam website. They look very professional & reasonable. And they are well within reach. They will be having a new customer! Adrian

Hi, does anyone know a good supplier of foam for seat cushions, cut to size, in the Wolverhampton/Stafford area? I have all the covers, just need to fill them! Adrian

I'm hoping someone can help here. So far all my plans for getting afloat are coming together, I should be back in the UK in a few weeks. So far I've only seen the boat once, and need to have everything in place to maintain it. The engine in my boat is a Barrus Shire 1552, which seems to be an early version of the 35, being a marinised 3 cylindar Yanmar producing 36 HP, and made in 2001. That much I've got from Barrus. However I've tried to get a service manual from them but no response to date. Has anyone got such an engine with a manual which could be copied? There is a 3.5KW Travelpower unit fitted, not by Barrus, will that mean a non standard belt for the alternator? Adrian